Improvement in manufacture of feather dusters



CHARLES F. sHOUlDS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. Letters Patent No. 89,176, daadpra 2o, 1869.

IMPROYEMENT IN' MANUFACTURE OI' FEATHER DUSTERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. SHoURDs, of the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in theManufacture of Feather Dusting-Brushes; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings. .In the manufacture of feather dustersmuch loss occurs from the large proportion of short waste, or

feathers which are too short to work into a brush of a useful size,which have to be thrown away or soldat a small price for such otherpurposes as they are capable of being used for.

My invention has for its object the saving of this loss to themanufacturer, by enabling this portion of the stock to be utilized inthe making of the brush, in the manner hereafter described, and by whichthe quality and durability of the duster are also improved.

I select all the feathers from the stock which are ordinarily consideredas waste, being those too short to form brushes, and take'a cord orthread of linen, or other strong material, which I immerse or coat witha solution of India rubber, and, while adhesive, apply the spine orquill of the feather longitudinally therewith, and braid, weave, or windthe two with thread Y for a short distance, when I- apply anotherfeather and fasten it in like manner, and continue to so apply thefeathers, which are too short for separate use, to the cord, securingthem with the elastic cement and braiding or winding, until a compoundfeather is formed of any required length.

The braiding or winding of the spines to the cord, when the latter iscoated with the dissolved India rubber, insures such perfect adhesionthat the feathers cannot be separated except by cutting the cord.

The braiding is preferably made to extend far enough to embrace a partof the Hue or plume of the feather, which makes the connectionsstronger, as the solution of gum penetrates readily, and adheres firmlyto these fibrous portions, and remains sufficiently elastic under allcircumstances.

superior softness and durability, from the excess of flue or down whichthe short feathers possess over the long ones, and from the exibility ofthe connection they form a softer brush, and one less liable to injurefurniture by scratching, as occurs from the spines .ofthe long featherswhen they become broken by use.

The braiding or winding may be rapidly done by machine, or by hand.

Figure l represents a feather formed of short waste, as described, abeing the foundation cord, b the short feathers, and c the braid, withwhich they are wound.

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section of a complete brush, A being thebody, composed of the compounded short waste, and B thel naturalfeathers.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and Adesire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1; The method, herein described, of utilizing the short waste in themanufacture of feather brushes, by braiding the same together to extendthe length, substantially as set forth.

2. A feather dusting-brush, formed whollylor in part of short feathersunited to form the requisite length, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. SHOURDS.

Witnesses:

J. FRASER, y COR. R. DlsoswAY.

